Morris' top economic advisor tapped to lead EDA

A preview of tomorrow's story. The City Council unanimously approved Emil Marzullo as interim replacement for Maggie Pacheco, who is retiring from the director's post of the Economic Development Agency.

SAN BERNARDINO — Mayor Pat Morris’ top economic advisor was tapped Monday to serve as interim director of the city’s Economic Development Agency.

Emil Marzullo, 54, was appointed unanimously on Monday by the City Council during a closed-session meeting.

Marzullo chats with Redlands politico Pete Aguilar moments before being named EDA director.

“It’s a temporary thing, and Emil’s well-qualified as the interim director,” Fourth Ward Councilman Neil Derry said.

Director Maggie Pacheco announced in December to EDA staffers and other city officials that she would be retiring.

Pacheco, 53, has been opaque on why she opted to discontinue her contract and $178,776 salary.

Publicly, Pacheco she is ready to “move on to do other things in life” after nearly 10 years with the agency.
In early 2006, Marzullo was Morris’ handpicked economic and community development advisor, a newly created position by the Morris administration.

Marzullo retired in 2004 from San Bernardino County, after working for about 25 years in land-use planning and economic development.

Marzullo had worked for the Mayor’s Office on a contract basis rather than as a city employee. He annually earned about $90,000.

With the promotion, Marzullo receives a raise to $13,223 monthly, or $158,676 per year.

“My objective is to keep the operation stable,” Marzullo said Monday. “I’m not going in as a change agent.”

Pacheco’s tenure turned rocky last year. In a closed session meeting April 2, her contract was saved when Morris broke a 3-3 council deadlock over whether to extend her contract to the end of Morris’ term, which runs to 2010. Derry has said clashes have been over development strategy, with Pacheco and Morris emphasizing downtown investment and some members of the council steering funds to the city’s outer rim.
The City Council serves as the agency’s board of directors.

Marzullo said his familiarity with a handful of ongoing development projects, including possible housing around Seccombe Lake, redevelopment of the languid Carousel Mall and mass transit hubs downtown, make him well-suited to ensure a smooth transition.

“I’ve been working with all these projects in one fashion or another,” he said.

Marzullo’s old job as Morris’ advisor will not be filled, he said, leaving him the option of returning to the position when a permanent director is named, probably later this year.

But Marzullo didn’t foreclose the option of becoming the permanent director.

“There’s always the possibility, but it’s not really in my plan” to become the long-term director, he said.

Deputy Director Don Gee is second in command behind Pacheco, the same position Pacheco occupied when she replaced outgoing Director Gary Van Osdel in 2005.
Marzullo starts work Feb. 1.